Suction threader



y 7, 1968 D. K. SMITH 3,381,869

SUCTION THREADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.Z

Filed Aug. 12. 1966 INVENTOR DREXEL KERMIT SMITH ATTORNEY y 7, 1968 D. K. SMITH 3,381,869

SUCTION THREADER Filed Au 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR DREXEL KERMIT SMITH BY72 ZZi ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,381,869 SUCTION THREADER Drexel Kermit Smith, Kinston, NC, assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,060 8 Claims. (Cl. 226-97) This invention relates to a method for conveying textile threads, and more particularly concerns a method and apparatus for initially conveying textile threads through tubes and the like.

Numerous operations performed in textile fiber manu facture and processing involve the passage of filaments through a conveying tube or similar device. In starting such operations, the ends of advancing filaments are thrown through the tube, a process assisted in diflicult cases by providing a high-velocity fluid flow through the tube in the intended direction of filament travel as the filaments are introduced into the tube. Numerous methods for creating high-velocity fluid flow in these operations have been proposed, such as the method described in Babcock US. Patent No. 2,289,860, dated July 14, 1942. The previous methods of the art, however, have not proved entirely satisfactory, particularly if the exposed surfaces of the thread-conveying tube contain sticky deposits, as is frequently the case when filaments coated with liquid finishes have passed through the tube. Oftentimes, in spite of considerable skill exercised by the operator in throwing the filaments toward the tube, they contact and adhere to the tube surface so that further progress is thwarted until the equipment is cleared and an accurate throw made.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for quickly, easily, and efliciently conveying thread ends through tubes or the like. Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for creating a unidirectional, high-velocity flow of gaseous fluid in a thread-conveying tube. A further object is to produce a high-velocity gaseous flow in a thread-conveying tube by means external to the path of intended filament travel therethrough.

The above and other objects are accomplished by the improvement, in starting filaments through a conveying tube with a high velocity stream of gaseous fluid from a jet device, of locating the jet device away from the central axis of the tube at a distance greater than that of the periphery of the tube, jetting the gaseous stream in a direction passing across and above the mouth of the tube, flowing the stream across an unenclosed, smoothly-contoured, solid surface curving gradually to the mouth of the tube from the jet device to cause the stream to follow the curved surface and pass through the tube, and positioning the filaments in the vicinity of the mouth of the tube to be pulled through the tube by the gaseous stream.

By the central axis of the tube is meant the central axis of the tube in the direction of thread travel. For example, if the tube is a right-circular cylinder, the central axis is its axis of symmetry.

The objects and advantages of this invention will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a suitable filament-spinning and drawing installation for practicing the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in operation, shown partially broken away in order to illustrate the operaton more clearly.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, taken through the central axis, of a preferred embodiment of apparatus for 3,381,869 Patented May 7, 1968 creating a high-velocity fluid flow through a conveying tube.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 3, with the section taken as in FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, FIGURE 1 includes spinning pack 2 and spinneret 3 from which a bundle of filaments 10 is spun through quenching chamber 11 and is converged into a yarn at guide 12. Upon leaving chamber 11, the yarn is coated with a finish by passing in contact with finish roll 13, passes through interfloor conveying tube 14 and proceeds to feed roll 15. The yarn passes partly around feed roll 15, to separator roll 16, back to feed roll 15, then to draw roll 17 and its separator roll 18 and is drawn. The yarn wraps the latter two rolls and ,is then wound up on package 19.

FIGURE 2 illustrates downwardly moving filaments 10 being fed downward through conveying tube 14 with a gaseous stream 20. The stream originates at orifice 4, follows the curved surface 5 of member 6, and blows into the tube without other guidance. Orifice 4 is in communication with gas supply line 7, both being mounted on member 6 which is supported by plate 8 attached to the conveying tube. FIGURE 3 illustrates the construction in more detail. Member 6 contains manifold 9 which communicates with fluid supply line 7 and orifice 4. FIG- URE 4 further illustrates the apparatus of FIGURE 3 with the same numbers applying to the components.

As illustrated, the invention includes gas-directing means for producing unidirectional flow of gaseous fluid in the conveying tube, comprising the combination of a fluid jet device having a stream-forming orifice displaced axially and radially from the thread-entering mouth of the conveying tube, means for supplying gaseous fluid under pressure to the jet device, and a member having a smoothly-contoured, unenclosed, curved surface sloping gradually away from the central axis of the orifice of the jet device to substantially meet and terminate at the mouth of the conveying tub. These components are arranged to provide a high-velocity stream of gaseous fluid and cause the stream to follow along said smooth surface into the tube. The central axis of the orifice of the jet device is preferably inclined at an angle of approximately 5 to 15 from a plane perpendicular to the central axis of said tube. Upon leaving the jet device, the stream of gas follows the curved solid surface and flows into the tube. Thus, the direction of flow is controlled by means external to the desired path of threadline flow, a condition highly desirable for the purpose.

In practicing this invention, the flow of fluid is started through the orifice so that a gas stream flows downward through the inteifloor conveying tube as herein described. Upon attaining the desired velocity of flow into the tube, filaments are extruded from the spinneret and solidified in the quenching chamber. The operator, standing near the quenching chamber, catches the advancing quenched filaments and throws them in the vicinity of the mouth of the tube. The filaments are drawn into and through the tube by the gas stream and are subsequently connected to suitable yarn take-up or forwarding apparatus. Upon completion of this step, the moving filament bundle is inserted into a guide located between the quenching chamber and the mouth of the conveying tube, causing the filaments to contact a finish applicator roll located just downstream of the guide. The flow of gaseous fluid through the tube can then be terminated.

The fluid used in the practice of this invention is in the gaseous state, its species being consistent with the function of the tube and the characteristics of the filaments used in the process. If the function of the tube is solely to provide access of filaments to a lower floor in an industrial plant, as in the preferred embodiment of this invention, air or nitrogen is preferred.

The size of the orifice, the configuration of the curved surface, and the fluid supply pressure are the major factors determining the path of the fluid in its travel into the tube, and these are chosen to provide flow suitable for the dimensions of the tube mouth. In the preferred embodiment shown, the tube is approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm.) long and of generally rectangular cross-section, measuring approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm.) by 1.5 inches (3.8 cm.). The jet device has an orifice which is also rectangular in cross-section, measuring 3 inches (7.1 cm.) in width by 0.015 inch (0.038 cm.), so that the width of the stream is less than the width of the tube. The solid surface downstream of the orifice preferably has a flat portion adjacent said orifice measuring approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm.) long by inches (25.4 cm.) wide and a curved portion extending downstream from the flat portion to the mouth of the tube. The curvature of the curved surface is preferably from approximately 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1.27 to 3.8 cm.) in radius. The pressure of the gaseous fluid supply to the orifice in the preferred process is from approximately 30 to 50 p.s.i.g. (207x10 newtons/m. to 34.7)(10 newtons/m?) to provide a high velocity stream of at least one-half sonic velocity.

In the preferred apparatus, the fluid flow from the orifice is directed toward the central axis of the tube and at an inclined angle of approximately 5 to from a plane intersecting the tube and perpendicular to said central axis. If the angle is less than approximately 5, the fluid stream does not entirely enter the tube and high-velocity flow in the tube is not created.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the new process and apparatus by those skilled in the art to accomplish other ends besides stringing freshly spun threads through interfloor tubes. Such other uses may comprise, for example, a process of stringing thread ends through annealing tubes in thread-processing operations. Such obvious changes in the apparatus and its practical utilization are considered within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The advantages of the new process are numerous. Flament ends from one, two, or even eight spinnerets have been quickly and etficiently carried through one interfloor tube by the new process. The fact that the jet device and stream-guiding surface do not obstruct the tube eliminates the problem of filament ends sticking to or catching on such flow-directing means. The new process provides a surprisingly more efficient incipient thread conveyance through a tube than those processes of the prior art incorporating orifices located in the wall of the tube to direct fluid flow through the tube.

Since many different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by the specific illustrations except to the extent defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a process for starting filaments through a conveying tube with a high-velocity stream of gaseous fluid from a jet device, the improvement of locating the jet device away from the central axis of the tube at a distance greater than that of the periphery of the tube, jetting the gaseous stream in a direction passing across and above the mouth of the tube, flowing the stream across an unenclosed, smoothly-contoured, solid surface curving gradually to the mouth of the tube from the jet device to cause the stream to follow the curved surface and pass through the tube, and positioning the filaments in the vicinity of the mouth of the tube to be pulled through the tube by the gaseous stream.

2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the gaseous stream has at least one-half sonic velocity.

3. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the gaseous stream is jetted toward the central axis of the tube at an inclined angle of approximately 5 to 15 from a plane intersecting the tube and perpendicular to the central axis.

4. Apparatus for producing unidirectional flow of gaseous fluid through a conveying tube, comprising the combination of a conveying tube for filaments, a fluid jet device having a stream-forming orifice displaced axially and radially from the mouth of the tube, means for supplying gaseous fluid under pressure to the jet device and a stream-guiding member having an unenclosed, smoothly-contoured, curved surface sloping gradually away from the central axis of the orifice of the jet device to substantially meet and terminate at the mouth of the tube.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the central axis of the orifice of the jet device is inclined at an angle of approximately 5 to 15 from. a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the tube.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the tube is of generally rectangular cross-section and the orifice of the jet device is of generally rectangular cross-section of less width than the width of the tube.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the curvature of the curved surface is from 0.5 to 1.5 inches in radius.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the jet device has a stream-forming orifice of generally rectangular cross-section having the central axis inclined at an angle of 5 to 15 from a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the tube, and said stream-guiding member has a flat unenclosed surface adjacent to the orifice followed by a curved surface having a curvature of 0.5 to 1.5 inches in radius terminating at the mouth of the tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,296,678 1/1967 Bundy 281 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PROCESS FOR STARTING FILAMENTS THROUGH A CONVEYING TUBE WITH A HIGH-VELOCITY STREAM OF GASEOUS FLUID FROM A JET DEVICE, THE IMPROVEMENT OF LOCATING THE JET DEVICE AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE TUBE AT A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THAT OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE TUBE, JETTING THE GASEOUS STREAM IN A DIRECTION PASSING ACROSS AND ABOVE THE MOUTH OF THE TUBE, FLOWING THE STREAM ACROSS AN UNENCLOSED, SMOOTHLY-CONTOURED, SOLID SURFACE CURVING GRADUALLY TO THE MOUTH OF THE TUBE FROM THE JET DEVICE TO CAUSE THE STREAM TO FOLLOW THE CURVED SURFACE AND PASS THROUGH THE TUBE, AND POSITIONING THE FILAMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE MOUTH OF THE TUBE TO BE PULLED THROUGH THE TUBE BY THE GASEOUS STREAM. 